Trending
Dear Heloise: This summer, I grew my first vegetable garden! It was not only fun; I discovered it saved money. And my vegetables tasted different … better, in fact, than store-bought ones. I picked my vegetables at the peak of their flavor, and it truly made a difference. My tomatoes have so much more flavor than store-bought tomatoes and so do my cucumbers, carrots and radishes.
My doctor, who grew up on a farm, swears that home-grown vegetables have more vitamins and are healthier because they are usually not sprayed with pesticides. There are other, more natural ways to get rid of pests. Since I'm in my garden most mornings to "water and weed," I notice if there has been any "bug activity." Then I get busy to get rid of the invaders!
I'd encourage others to try their hand at planting vegetables as a hobby. It will get them out of the house and into fresh air, reduce their grocery bill, provide some delight and give them some delicious vegetables to enjoy. — Tracy H., Clawson, Michigan
ADDING MEAT
TO DOG FOOD
Dear Heloise: My husband and I have a rule in our house that we always feed leftover meats to our dogs. I cut it into tiny pieces and then mix it up with their regular dog food. They always clean the bowl, and my vet said it was OK to do this. It offered a change of pace for the dogs.
One of our dogs recently passed away at the age of 17. The second and third dogs are 12 and 15 years old. — Judy L., Lexington, Tennesseee
SEWING HINT
Dear Heloise: I have always snipped threads as I sew, and they usually just fall to the floor. Instead, I placed a piece of rolled-up tape on the corner of my sewing machine cabinet, and as I snipped, I touched the tape to remove the threads. When I finished sewing, I just peeled off the tape and threw it in the waste basket. — Mary Jane P., New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.